getting hooked (me; not the fish)

[briantlowery]

Here's 40 gallon FOWLER. Been running for 3 1/2 months now and learned a few lessons. Now ready to go bigger.

And here's my new 90. Running for 3 days. Waiting for the water to balance out before I even think about putting in any rock. Gonna cure some dry rock until it's done leeching phosphate then seed with live rock.

Hope I'm on the right track.

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[eliramos]

are you going to be using sand?

 

[mfinn]

You say you are curing live rock until it's done leeching phosphate.
Why do you think it's leeching phosphate?
What are you doing to it?

 

[briantlowery]

Yes, I will be using sand. Be putting that in once the levels balance from the rock.

 

[briantlowery]

You say you are curing live rock until it's done leeching phosphate.
Why do you think it's leeching phosphate?
What are you doing to it?

I'll be starting with dry rock and from everything i've read so far, it leeches a lot of phosphate. Once that's done, I'll seed with some live rock.
Sorry if I worded that wrong and caused some confusion.

 

[mfinn]

Where did the rock come from?

One way to remove phosphate from rock ( if there is any) is to do a muratic acid bath.
I've done this before by using 2 cups muratic acid and 5 gallons of ro/di water. Let it soak for about a hour.
Rinse
Let it dry for a couple days.

 

[briantlowery]

Unfortunatly I don't have the equipment for ro/di water yet, so I'm just going to cure in-tank as this is a brand new setup. But ill deffinetly keep that in mond if I have to do that again.

 

[mfinn]

What I was wondering is what are you doing to get the phosphate out of the rock?

 

[briantlowery]

I don't know what I can do other than let it cure. I'm still researching different methods to figure out what I can do with the equipment I have. All I know is I can let it soak and treak the water till the levels balsnce out, and the muratic acid bath you just mentioned.

Open to any otger idea you might have.

 

[mfinn]

All I know is I can let it soak and treak the water till the levels balsnce out,

.

Soak in what?
Freshwater?
Saltwater?


Where is the rock from?
Is it old dried out previously used live rock?
Or a type like marco rock?

 

[mfinn]

What I'm wondering, is the water you are using ro/di water?
If it isn't, it may contain phosphate and adding to the problem.

What test kit are you using to test for phosphate?

 

[russo36]

I don't understand why you are curing the dry rock.... I put about 30 pounds of dry rock and seed it w live rock and it was fine... 4months later and I started to notice some purple coralline algae growing on it. I just let my tank do its thing and cycle and never had a phosphate problem.... Tank was cycled w in 2 weeks

 

[briantlowery]

Soak in what?
Freshwater?
Saltwater?


Where is the rock from?
Is it old dried out previously used live rock?
Or a type like marco rock?

I'll be getting the rock from an online dealer after a little more research and I'll just be throwing it in my tank (saltwater). From my understanding it's ok because it's not an established tank and so I can just cure it in there. I'm going to try and sit down tonight and research a few dealers and then search a few forums to see what other, more experienced guys have to say about them to make a more informed decision on where i'm going to go for the rock. I'm also trying to learn more about the curing process too as I only have a basic idea of what to do and I really want to take my time and ensure I do this right.

 

[briantlowery]

What I'm wondering, is the water you are using ro/di water?
If it isn't, it may contain phosphate and adding to the problem.

What test kit are you using to test for phosphate?

No, it's just tap. Mixed in the salt and started treating. I just bought the two-part chemical test kit. Right now I'm running an Emperor 400 to filter, once my tank is extablished I'm going to save for a good skimmer and then an ro/di filter system that I'll start using for my water changes. I'm just starting out so piece at a time.

 

[briantlowery]

I don't understand why you are curing the dry rock.... I put about 30 pounds of dry rock and seed it w live rock and it was fine... 4months later and I started to notice some purple coralline algae growing on it. I just let my tank do its thing and cycle and never had a phosphate problem.... Tank was cycled w in 2 weeks

I've read that others have had problems with the dry rock leeching phosphate, so I'm gonna leave it by itself for a week just to play it safe. If I don't see a spike, then I'll go ahead and seed it. Just one of those things where if I'm putting money into it, I want to make sure I don't have any suprises.

Awesome that you got that purple coralline though. I'm hoping to get some of that.

 

[russo36]

I've read that others have had problems with the dry rock leeching phosphate, so I'm gonna leave it by itself for a week just to play it safe. If I don't see a spike, then I'll go ahead and seed it. Just one of those things where if I'm putting money into it, I want to make sure I don't have any suprises.

Awesome that you got that purple coralline though. I'm hoping to get some of that.

When u pick up your live rock just make sure it has a good amount of coralline in it... Then your rocks will pick it up w time... If not u can use a booster... I didn't I don't like to add too much to my system.... Some of my rocks had good coralline and even sponges

 

[briantlowery]

When u pick up your live rock just make sure it has a good amount of coralline in it... Then your rocks will pick it up w time... If not u can use a booster... I didn't I don't like to add too much to my system.... Some of my rocks had good coralline and even sponges

Nice. I don't plan on doing coral any time soon simply because I've still got sooooo much to learn, but I would like to get that nice coralline on my rock. I just love the look of it.
Sponges would be awesome too.

 

[briantlowery]

I don't understand why you are curing the dry rock.... I put about 30 pounds of dry rock and seed it w live rock and it was fine... 4months later and I started to notice some purple coralline algae growing on it. I just let my tank do its thing and cycle and never had a phosphate problem.... Tank was cycled w in 2 weeks

BTW, where did u get ur dry rock from?

 

[Countrybob]

Just a quick note. I used Marco rocks. The pieces were really nice and very porous I have alot of friends who have ordered from him and were pleased with the amount and size of the pieces in their shipment. Dry Live Rock for Sale | Aragonite Sand | Aquarium Supply - Marco Rocks .